Football reporter

Frank Farina will be happy to have Alessandro Del Piero back for Sydney FC this weekend. Photo: Ben Rushton

Sydney FC marquee Alessandro Del Piero looks set to be given the all clear to play in Friday’s must-win clash against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The Sky Blues’ position in the top six hangs in the balance before the fixture, with a bad loss potentially putting their finals hopes in jeopardy. They are presently three points – and a superior goal difference – clear of seventh-placed Newcastle.

However, a win could put them as many as six points clear, which, with three matches left, would look a safe enough buffer from the chasing pack.

Del Piero missed the 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar last week after being found to have fluid on his hamstring and the side lacked his creative presence in the front third, not least when Brisbane were reduced to 10 men but still looked the more likely winner.

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However, having trained sufficiently this week, and with the team in a full session on Friday, the 39-year old is determined to make his impact.

“He’s done light training this week, he trained yesterday, trained this morning and will travel with us and we’ll make a determination tomorrow when we get there,” coach Frank Farina said. “But he looks as though he should be all right.”

Farina added that the Italian was “more than likely” to be the only change to the starting side.

There was a small chance Del Piero could have pushed through against the Roar last week but Farina insisted it wasn’t worth the gamble.

“Last week, there was no point,'' he said. ''He hadn’t trained much at all, it was too short a week and, with four big games coming up – you roll the dice last week and you might miss him for two or three weeks. Now with four massive games to go he should be OK.”

Del Piero’s future remains in question and it is understood his desire for a new contract extends beyond the parameters of the club’s marquee budget for next season. Their budget is capped at $1.5 million, whereas his representatives are hopeful of a continuation of the $4 million-per-season deal he has enjoyed for the past two years.

While the decision – and the decision-making process – is above Farina’s station, the coach reckons the matter isn’t finished just yet.

“Discussions haven’t been held with Alessandro out of respect for what he wants to do, which is finish as high up the table as we can,” he said. “There’s no decision been made whatsoever.”

The Italian is one of 12 Sydney FC players coming off contract in the coming weeks.

With plenty of those players on the borderline of being released, Farina acknowledges it’s time for some to make a statement.

“I think every player is playing, not for their career, but playing to get a contract or justify why we’ve signed them,” Farina said. “We are in discussions with a number of players, but it’s not the priority at this stage.”

Another of those players, Sasa Ognenovski, is one the club wants to re-sign but he has made no secret of his desire to return to Melbourne after playing interstate and overseas for the past eight years.

He appears torn between extending his temporary stay in Sydney – undertaken primarily to aid his fitness as he chases a World Cup berth – and a move home.

“I’m originally from Melbourne so it would be nice to go home,” he said. “So I’ll have a chat with the club and we might be doing something shortly.”